Mr. Fournier (Hull):

The purpose of the amendment is to confirm the present practice of the Board of Transport Commissioners for Canada and the railways which gives the benefit of the Maritime Freight Rates Act to westbound traffic moving rail and lake, and also rail, lake and rail, from points on eastern lines.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Hon. Alphonse Fournier (for ihe Minister of Transport) moved

for leave to introduce Bill No. 8, to amend the North Fraser Harbour Commissioners Act.

Explain.

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this amendment is to provide for appointment by the governor in council of two additional commissioners, and also to provide for the payment of the remuneration of the commissioners out of harbour revenues.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Hon. Alphonse Fournier (for the Minister of Transport) moved

for leave to introduce Bill No. 9, to amend the Toronto Harbour Commissioners Act.

Explain.

Mr. Fournier (Hull):

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this amendment is to define the north limit of the port and harbour of Toronto, and also to authorize the commissioners to control, regulate or prohibit the construction or use of pipes or pipe lines, or the operation or carrying on of any business or activity within harbour limits which would affect any property, business or revenues of the corporation.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Hon. Stuart S. Garson (for the Minister of Finance) moved

for leave to introduce Bill No. 10, to approve the financial agreement between Canada and the United Kingdom signed on the 29th day of June, 1951.

Explain.

Mr. Garson:

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to approve an agreement between Canada and the United Kingdom signed on June 29, 1951, concerning the $700 million interest-free loan to the United Kingdom in 1942. This loan, in effect, funded the sterling balances accumulated by Canada in the early years of the war, prior to mutual aid arrangements, in order to enable the United Kingdom to continue its purchases in Canada of its essential wartime requirements. The United Kingdom has since 1942 been retiring this debt by applying, in repayment of the loan, the proceeds of the redemption or sale of Canadian securities owned by the United Kingdom residents. Under the recent agreement, which this bill approves, the interest-free provision and the other arrangements with respect to the loan are continued as at present until January 1, 1954.

Motion agreed to and bill read the first time.

Proposed Legislation OLD AGE SECURITY

Hon. Paul Martin (Minister of National Health and Welfare) moved

that the house go into committee at the next sitting to consider the following resolution:

That it is expedient to introduce a measure to provide for the payment of pensions, without a means test, of forty dollars a month to persons who have attained the age of 70 years and have appropriate residence qualifications, and to establish a fund made up of special contributions levied for that purpose.

He said: His Excellency the Governor General, having been made acquainted with the subject matter of this resolution, recommends it to the consideration of the house.

Hon. Hugues Lapointe (for the Minister of National Defence) moved

that the house go into committee at the next sitting to consider the following resolution:

That it is expedient to introduce a measure to amend the National Defence Act to provide for the payment of compensation in respect of the death cr disability of persons employed in or with the public service of Canada while performing functions in relation to the Canadian forces, the defence research board or forces co-operating therewith; to amend the Defence Services Pension Act to permit the payment of a pension to an officer or man who has served in the Canadian forces for twenty years or more and to provide that the act shall continue to apply to a man who, having been promoted from the ranks, is granted a short service commission to provide that persons who have accumulated pensionable service under the Defence Services Pension Act may be able to count that service under the Civil Service Superannuation Act when they retire from the forces to accept civil service appointments in the Department of National Defence; to amend the Department of Veterans Affairs Act to provide continuing authority for that department to administer, on the same basis as in the past, the service estates of former members of the forces; to amend the Visiting Forces (United States of America) Act to provide for the attendance of civilian witnesses at American courts-martial held in Canada; and to amend other statutes to make their terminology consistent with that of the National Defence Act.

He said: His Excellency the Governor General, having been made acquainted with the subject matter of this resolution, recommends it to the consideration of the house.